By Capt. Brylee
Special to the Pioneer
Hurricane Isaac has ripped through the Gulf this past week and made fishing nearly impossible. Both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts have felt the impact of high winds and rains. Small boat advisories have plagued boaters’ news headlines as the seas have been rough.
With many of the beaches closed and charter fishing for the most part non-existent, or at best not advised, many have tried their angling skills at the piers.

The recent increase in rains have created a fresh water fisher’s haven. The rivers, lakes,and ponds have taken more water lately than in previous months. The Suwannee River has overflowed into most every spring through Levy County and the smaller rivers have done the same.

By Capt. Brylee
Special to the Pioneer
The weather has begun to give us our normal Florida summer weather. The rains each afternoon create the barometric pressure to rise and fall most of the day. This poses well for anglers both saltwater and fresh.
While rising and falling barometric pressures increase fish productivity don’t forget to find the three musts to locating the fish; food, structure and comfort.

By Capt. Brylee
Special to the Pioneer
As the waters continue to recover from Debby, scallops will start to become more prevalent.
As in the weeks past many scallops are being taken in waters of seven feet or more; but as the waters clear more each week, they will move closer in.
Remember to try and scallop on the incoming tides as they are more visible but if time doesn’t allow you to, dive deeper and look beneath the grass and in little hidden holes.

By Capt. Brylee
Special to the Pioneer
July 1 Scallop and Gag Grouper seasons opened. The inshore waters are still feeling the wake of Tropical Storm Debby. leaving many of the bays stirred up and murky in places.
Hagen’s Cove, between Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach is one such bay.
Although the waters weren’t favorable close in shore many scallopers found success 400-500 yards off shore.

By Capt. Brylee
Special to the Pioneer
This past week or so, the Gulf has been filled with warm waters making the search for the keepers a little more difficult. From Steinhatchee to Cedar Key reports have been that the Red Snapper have been scattered.
Capt. Steve Hart with Legal Limits Charters said his best luck had been around 48-50’ of water. Gag Grouper, which come into season on July 1 seem to go for live bait, so stick with the frozen to increase your chances to pull up Red Snapper and Red Grouper.